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Close Call Sports objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner's MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), baseball's number one source for umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Injury - Hirschbeck Exits After Foul Ball to Throat

John Hirschbeck left Friday's Rockies-Cubs game after a foul-to-throat incident in the top of the 8th inning, when Rockies batter Tony Wolters' foul ball of a 93 mph fastball bounced off the Chicago dirt and directly up to Hirschbeck's neck, appearing to carom upward and underneath the traditional facemask's throat guard extension.

After a brief delay and evaluation by training staff, crewmate Clint Fagan retreated to the umpire's room and changed into his plate gear, replacing Hirschbeck shortly thereafter as the crew reverted to three-person mechanics.

Marvin Hudson, who officiated Friday in Pittsburgh, joined the Chicago-NL crew on Saturday, replacing the injured Hirschbeck, as Tony Basner was called up to Pittsburgh to replace Hudson.

Hirschbeck previously left a 2013 game after being hit in the wrist by an errant pitch in Philadelphia.